Tire ply turning mechanism



Feb. 5, 1946. C, SL MCCHESNEY 2,394,318

TIRE PLY TURNING MECHANISM Original Filed 0G12. 3. 1942 5 SheeS-Sheet 1 Afro/mn Feb. 5, 1946.

TIRE FLY TURNING MEGHANISM oiginal Filed oct. 3. 1942 :s sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR. Car/ ze S. Mc CHEs/VEK BY Z ATTORNEY.

C. S. McCHESNEY TIRE PLY TURMNG MECHANISM Feb. 5, 1946.

Original Filed 061;. 3, 1942 3 SheetS-Sheet 5 lNvENToR n 5R J`. /c (Hfs/var Patented Feb. S, 17946 *e .t

Cuyler S. McChesney, Kenmore, N. Y., assigner to Dunlop Tire and Rubber Corporation, Buffalo, N. Y., a corporation of'New York Original application "October 3. 1942, Serial No. 460,705. Divided and this application Novem ber 18, 1944, Serial No. 564,162

14 Claims.

My present invention relates to a mechanism for turning plies of fabric about tire beads on a forming drum.

The present application is a division of my copending application-Serial No. 460,705, filed October 3, 1942, for Tire building machine."

In building a tire carcass on a cylindrical forming drum plies of rubberized cord fabric orV bias cut .fabric are applied on and wrapped about 'the drum and are of sufficient width to overlap the end `faces of the drum. Usually two or more plies are thus wrapped on the drum before the beads are placed in position.

Before placing the beads on vthe tire carcass the projecting ends of the fabric are pressed against the end faces of the drum to form at surfaces on which the beads 'are mounted by pressing them against these turned down sur-- faces to which they adhere, inasmuch as the rubberized fabric and the covering of the beads are both tacky or sticky.

The present invention relates to a mechanism whereby the part of the 'fabric within the area of the circular beads may be turned outwardly and about the beads so as to enclose'them in the turned over plies of tire fabric.

In the present invention this is accomplished rapidly and uniformly while. the formingdrum is rotating. For this purpose the mechanism comprises a disk having a beveled edge which is pressed tightly against the Lend .surface of the drum and thence movedroutwardly luntil it con tacts with the inner edge of the fabrics .lying against the end wall of the drum. VAs the edge of the bevelled disk then enters or is forced .between the end of the drum and the fabric, the fabric turns away from the end wall .progressively as the disk approaches and reaches the bead. This disk :is yieldingly held and Vits further movement is stopped by the bead.

To complete the turn over of the fabric a second disk or cylinder spaced from the end surface of the drum a distance equal to the width of the bead and of the turn over layers of fabric then passes outwardly pushing or folding the turned up fabric about the bead and in a reverse curve, or a turn oi.' 180 or more, thus wrapping the fabric about the inner half of lthe bead. These turning actions `on the fabric take place gradually and progressively, the disks moving outwardly while the drum is rotating and thus in a spiral outward path relative to the surface of the drum.

When the fold-over operation is completed the disks return Vto their original position and then are moved outwardly from the end face ofthe drum after which they mayrbe lowered out of position. 'IWo'sets ofdisks are employed, one for each end .face of the forming drum. The disks or cylinders may be mounted on suitable brackets which are brought into` and out of position yby pneumatic or equivalent actuating l means and may also be brought to and away from the endl faces of the drum by pneumatic or other resiliently acting means. K

The various features ofthe invention are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of mechanism embodying a preferred form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is aside elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 Ais a Ldetail .radial section showing the beveled turning disk as it is brought against the tire bead;

Fig. 4 illustrates the position of the turn over cylinder when it vhas reached the end of its movement to turn the fabric about the bead.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying .drawings it is illustrated as applied to a forming drum l0 having at end faces I l and yI2 and mounted on a rotating shaft i 3. Plies I4 of rubberized tire fabric are wrapped about 'the drum with vthe ends of the plies projecting as indicated at I5 in Fig. 1. These projecting ends are turned inwardly flat against the surface of the drum as indicated in broken lines in Fig. 1 and in full lines in Fig. 2, and a bead indicated at i6 is pressed against the inturned ply fabric to which it adheres owing to the'tackiness of the bead surface and of the fabric. When the 'fabric is in this position on `the drum vthe 2f ported a pair of rails or shafts 20 and 2l below and parallel to the surface of the drum l0.

On the shaft 2| a bracket is rotatably and slidably mounted and carries a pair of cone shaped disks one at each end of the drum. These brackets are pivotally mounted on shaft 2| so that they may be swung from a position below the drum I upwardly until the cone shaped disks face the end surfaces and I2 of the drum after which they may be moved axially into contact with the end surfaces. Thereafter they bracket is tilted outwardly on the rail orshaft 2| to cause the edges of the cone shaped disks to pass between the end face of the drum and the turned in edges of the plies.

When the disks reach the bead their further progress is stopped and a second pair of disks is spaced from the end surface of the drum and passes outwardly turning the ply about the kbead to encircle it so that the turned over end of the the plies beyond the bead ring.

In the embodiment shown in the accompanyl ing drawings the disk carrying brackets are supported on a lever which comprises a pair of arms 22 and 23Vpivot-ally mounted at one end on the shaft 2| and secured together by an integral rod or brace 24 so as to rotate as a unit. Thesearms may be bent or curved toward each other near their pivoted ends so as to iit against the standards |8 and I9 and thus be placed in xed axial position to the drum I0.

Spanning the arms 22 and 23 in spaced parallel relation near the free ends thereof are a .pair of longitudinally extending shafts 25 and 26.

The lever 22-23 may be swung upwardly about the shaft'2|,cn which it pivots, by means of a fluid operatedpiston and cylinder 2`| pivotally supported at its lower end on a bracket 28 on the base and having a piston rod connected to a cross shaft 29 spanning the lever arms 22 and 23 at a short distance from the shaft 2|. Fluid may be admitted to and exhausted from the cylinder 2'| by means of a magnetically vcontrolled valve 3U, Fig. l. When fluid is admitted to the lower end of the cylinder 2'| it forces the piston upwardly and tilts the lever assembly upwardly from the position shown in full lines in Figs. 1 and 2 to that shown in broken lines.

Slidably mounted on the shafts 25 and 26 are a pair ofV triangular brackets 3| and 32. These brackets may be separated beyond the planes of the end surfaces of the drum Hl and are thus separated when in the lowermost position. Mounted on the apex of each of the bracketsY 3| and 32 respectively, are rotatably supported turnover disks 33 and 34, respectively, and a rock lever 35 or 36 respectively. Mounted on the free ends of the rock levers 35 and 36 respectively, are cone shaped disks 3`| and 38 projecting toward each other and with their iiat faces opposed. The rock arms 35 and 36 are each resiliently held in a lowered position against stops 39 by means of springs 40 tensioned between ears 4| on the ends of the triangularV brackets 3| and 32 respectively, and cn the rock arms 35 and 36.

When these brackets are spaced apart as shown in Fig. 1 and the assembly of brackets and levers 22-23 is tilted upwardly to the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 2, the disks 33 and 31 will be spaced from one end face of the drum lil and within the perimeter of the edge of the turnover ply and, similarly, the disks 34 and 38 will be spaced from the opposite end face of the drum andV within the perimeter of the turnover plies 2,394,318 y y' l r d tromagnetically controlled valve 45 to the lefthand end of the cylinder 42, the piston and its rod 43 are shiftedto the right sliding the bracket 3| until it reaches a stop 46 on the shaft 26 and the disks 33 and 3`| are brought in line with the end surface of the drum l0, whereupon further admission of fluid causes the bracket 32 to move to the left until it reaches a stop 47 on the shaft 26 and its disks 34 and 38 are brought in line with the opposite .end surface of the drum. The drum is then rotated while the bracket and supporting arm assembly swings downwardly.

. A5 the disks 3l. and 38 reach the inner edge of the turned lover ply they rotate and the edge of the disk passes between the end surface of the drum and the plies forcing the plies outwardly along the conical Vsurfaces of thedisk, as shown in Fig.V 3. 'As the disks move outwardly gradually and the plies are thus turned over progressively with the rapid rotation of the drum they do not displace the beads but rather anchor them the more securely by the outward turning of the margins of the plies.

When the disks 31 'and 38 are brought up against the inner circumferences of the beads and are stopped further lowering of the assembly causes the arms 35 to tilt stretching the spring 40 and causes the second turnover disks or rollers 33 and 34 to move outwardly over the bead and turned over ply as shown in Fig. 4.

AThese rollers or disks have flat surfaces 48 and 49, spaced from the ends of the drums by means ofstubs 50 and 5| a distance equal to the combined thickness of the turned over plies and bead so that the turned over ply is thus pressed tightly about the bead as well as given a reverse turn. The remaining marginal end may then be readily pressed into contact with the outer surface of the plies between the beads. Thereafter the .lever 22-23 is lifted to position, shown in dotted lines Fig. 2, iiuid exhausted from the left end from the cylinder 42 and admitted to the right end thereof to separate the brackets 3| and 32 to the distances they occupy in Fig. 1, whereupon the fluid may beexhausted from the lower end of the cylinder 21 and the mechanism assume its original position. The nal plies may then be applied overlapping the turned over-lower plies.

What I claim is: A

l. A device for turning plies of tire fabric about a bead on the end face of a forming drum which comprises a disk beveled to an eeagainst said end face of said'drum, a ply turning element having a face spaced from the plane of said beveled edge and means to supportsaid disk in advance of said turning element and to permit it to yield backwardly toward the axis of said drum.

2. A device for turning plies of tire fabric about a bead on the end face of a forming drum which comprises a ply turning element havinga face facing and spaced from the end face of said drum, a swinging arm pivoted to swing toward and away from the axis of said drum, a disk beveled to an edge against the end face of said drum and means to move said arm resiliently outwardly fromxthe axis of said drum.

3. A devicefor turning plies of tire fabric about a bead on the end face of-a formingdrum which comprises a ply turning element having a 'face facing and spaced from the end -face of fsaid drum and having a stub projecting to :said end fare, a disk beveled to an edge. against the end `face of said drum and means to move said disk resiliently toward theperiphery of said drum.

4. A device for turning plies Vof tire fabric about a bead on theend face of a yforming drum which comprises a support pivoted on an axis parallel to that of said drum, a bracket on said support slidable axially thereof, a turnover element on said bracket having a stub projecting in a direction parallel to the axis of said support, a swinging arm on said bracket, a rotatable disk on said arm having a beveled edge in a plane at right angles to the axis of said support and a spring resiliently holding said arm and disk toward the peripheral edge of said drum.

5. Apparatus for turning plies of tire fabric about beads on opposite end faces of a forming drum which comprises a pair of arms pivoted on an axis parallel to the axis of said drum; a pair of rods connecting said arms and parallel to the axis of said drum; a pair of brackets slidably mounted on said rods; a pair of ply turning elements, one on each of said brackets, having a face facing the end face of said drum and a stub to space said face from the end face of said drum; a pair of swinging arms, one on each bracket; a pair of bevel edged disks, one on each swinging arm, the edge of said disk being in a plane parallel to the respective end faces of said drum; a spring to hold said arm outwardly from the axis of said drum; a cylinder mounted on one of said brackets and projecting toward the other, and a piston irl said cylinder and extending to and connected with the opposite bracket.

6. A tire building apparatus comprising a rotating forming drum; a ply turnover device comprising a support pivoted to swing toward and from said drum, and having rods parallel to the axis of said drum; a pair of brackets slidably mounted on said rods, one near each end thereof, and having a turnover disk Within the periphery of said drum and slightly spaced from the end thereof when said pivoted support is swung toward said drum; a swinging arm on each of said brackets, and an edged disk rotatably mounted on said arm in position to contact the ends of said drum; a spring between each said arm and bracket to yield as said support is moved away from said drum and means for swinging said support toward and from said drum and for sliding said brackets toward each other.

7. A ply turnover device for turning plies on the end of a forming drum over a bead which comprises a support pivoted to swing toward and from the forming drum and having rods parallel to the axis of pivoting; a pair of brackets slidable on said rods and spaced one near eachend of said rods, each bracket having av swinging arm and a spring resiliently holding said arm to yield inwardly toward the axis of the forming drum; a frusta-conical disk mounted on each said swinging arm with its fiat face parallel to the correspending end of the forming drum and means to tilt said pivoted support on its axis and to slide said brackets toward and from each other.

8. A ply turnover device for turning plies on the end of a forming drum over a bead which comprises a support pivoted to swing toward and from the forming drum and having rods parallel to the axis of pivoting; a pair of brackets slidable on saidrrods and spaced yone Inearcachet-,mil of said rods, each bracket having a swinging armanda spring resiliently holding l'said-arm to `yield yinwardly .toward the axis Vof the forming drum; `a frusto-coni'oal kdisk 'mounted on each said swinging armwith its flat face opposite the corresponding end of the forming drum and means to `tilt said pivoted support on .its axis and to slide said brackets Vtoward andA from each other, and a .turnover disk mountedv on eachsaid'bracket andv having a stem projecting toward the end of the drum.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 having adjustable stops for said brackets to limit their movement toward each other.

10. In a tire building machine a forming drum and turnover elements to turn tire fabric about a bead ring on the end face of said drum which comprises a disk having a face spaced from the end race of said drum; a pivoted arm supporting said disk to move it toward the circumference of said drum; a second disk having a bevel edge positioned fiat against the end face of said drum; a swinging arm for said second disk for resiliently and yieldingly holding said second disk nearer the edge of said drum than said spaced disk.

11. A fabric turnover device for tire forming drums which comprises a pair o f brackets; means to support said brackets to slide longitudinally of said drum to and away from the opposite faces of said drum; a turnover disk mounted on each of said brackets in position to move across the end face of a drum and having a stem to space said disk from the end face of said forming drum when said stem contacts therewith; a swinging arm mounted on said bracket; a frusto-conical disk mounted on said swinging arm to contact with the adjacent face of said drum and a spring tensioned to hold said swinging arm resiliently outwardly in advance of said bracket when swinging outwardly toward the edge of said drum.

12. Apparatus for turning plies of fabric about beads on end faces of a forming drum which comprises a support pivoted on an axis parallel to that of said drum; a pair of brackets slidably mounted on said support to move toward and from the opposite end faces of said drum, each said bracket having a rotatable ply turning element mounted thereon, said ply turning element having a face facing and spaced from the end face of said drum and a stub projecting axially therefrom toward said end face; a swinging arm on said bracket; a disk having a face facing the end face of said drum and having an edge bevelled to said face; means to move said swinging arm resiliently away from the axis of said drum and means to move said brackets toward and from the opposite end faces of said drum.

13. Apparatus for turning plies of fabric about beads on end faces of a forming drum which comprises a support pivoted on an axis parallel to that of said drum; a pair of brackets slidably mounted on said support to move toward and from the opposite end faces of said drum, each said bracket having a rotatable ply turning element mounted thereon, said ply turning element having a face facing and spaced from the end face of said drum and a stub projecting axially therefrom toward said end face; a swinging arm on said bracket; a disk having a face parallel to the end face of said drum and having an edge bevelled to said face of said disk; means to move said swinging arm resiliently away from the axis of said drum; a pneumaticaily operated cylinder mounted on one of said brackets and a piston in saidcylinder and connected to the opposite bracket'.

14..,AY fabric turnover device for tire forming drums which comprises a'support pivoted to tilt to and from a forming drum and havingapair of spaced supporting rods paralleli tothe axis of tilting; a pair of brackets siidable on said rods and extending upwardly therefrom; a, pair of turnover disks one mounted on each of said brackets and facing the adjacent end of the forming drum and i0 havingfa stem to space it Vfrom the end ofsaid forming drum when said stem contacts therewith; a pair of swinging arms, one pivoted on each bracket, each of said swinging arms having a rotatable frusto-conical disk with the face in position to contact with the adjacent end of said drum, and a spring confined between said swinging arm and said bracket to urge said arm in a. direction away from the axis of said drum.

' CUYLER. S. McCI-IESNEY; 

